Creating the Twentieth Century: Technical Innovations of 1867-1914 and Their Lasting ImpactThe period between 1867 and 1914 remains the greatest watershed in human history since the emergence of settled agricultural societies: the time when an expansive civilization based on synergy of fuels, science, and technical innovation was born. At its beginnings in the 1870s were dynamite, the telephone, photographic film, and the first light bulbs. Its peak decade - the astonishing 1880s - brought electricity - generating plants, electric motors, steam turbines, the gramophone, cars, aluminum production, air-filled rubber tires, and prestressed concrete. And its post-1900 period saw the first airplanes, tractors, radio signals and plastics, neon lights and assembly line production. This book is a systematic interdisciplinary account of the history of this outpouring of European and American intellect and of its truly epochal consequences. It takes a close look at four fundamental classes of these epoch-making innovations: formation, diffusion, and standardization of electric systems; invention and rapid adoption of internal combustion engines; the unprecedented pace of new chemical syntheses and material substitutions; and the birth of a new information age. These chapters are followed by an evaluation of the lasting impact these advances had on the 20th century, that is, the creation of high-energy societies engaged in mass production aimed at improving standards of living. |
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Page 160
... produced in the United States in 1864. One more essential step was needed to make the process universal : to remove phosphorus from pig iron in order to be able to use many iron ores that contain the element . Many engineers tried for ...
... produced in the United States in 1864. One more essential step was needed to make the process universal : to remove phosphorus from pig iron in order to be able to use many iron ores that contain the element . Many engineers tried for ...
Page 164
... produced in batches . Other electric arc furnace designs were introduced shortly afterward , and by 1910 there were more than 100 units of different designs operating worldwide , with Germany in the lead far ahead of the United States ...
... produced in batches . Other electric arc furnace designs were introduced shortly afterward , and by 1910 there were more than 100 units of different designs operating worldwide , with Germany in the lead far ahead of the United States ...
Page 244
... produced elec- tromagnetic waves by using a large induction coil , basically a transformer that received pulsed voltage from batteries to the primary winding and produced a much higher voltage in the secondary winding . In his first set ...
... produced elec- tromagnetic waves by using a large induction coil , basically a transformer that received pulsed voltage from batteries to the primary winding and produced a much higher voltage in the secondary winding . In his first set ...
Contents
The Great Inheritance | 3 |
The Age of Electricity | 33 |
Internal Combustion Engines | 99 |
Copyright | |
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20th century Age of Synergy alloys aluminum ammonia applications automobiles BASF basic became began Benz Benz & Cie built carbon coal commercial converted cylinder Daimler decades device diesel diffusion dynamos early economic Edison efficiency electric lights electric motors electromagnetic energy eventually experiments explosive figure filament filed film four-stroke fuel fundamental furnace German global Hall-Héroult process heat Hertz HVAC improved incandescent lights industry innovations installed internal combustion engines introduced invention inventors iron Karl Benz lamps largest late later less lightbulbs London machines Marconi Maybach mechanical metal million Model modern nitrogen nitroglycerine Nobel operation pioneering Poldhu pre-WWI prime movers produced rapid Reproduced Scientific American Siemens Smil speed station steam engines steam turbines steel synthesis technical advances techniques telephone Tesla transformers transmission transmitter U.S. Patent United Kingdom vehicles voltage Westinghouse William wire wireless world's York